Rent a live holiday tree now, and it will help salmon later

You can rent a Christmas tree from the Adopt A Stream Foundation, and then after the holidays, your tree will be planted next to a salmon stream.

Here’s how it works:

Rent your live Christmas tree from the Adopt A Stream Foundation for $35 between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Dec. 15 at the Northwest Stream Center, McCollum Park, 600 128th St. SE, Everett.

More than 200 trees will be there to choose from, including Sitka spruce, western red cedar and Douglas fir. Most trees are 3- to 4 feet tall. You will receive directions on how to keep your trees alive and healthy.

Sammy the Salmon will be there in his Santa hat to have his picture taken with the family.

When you return your live tree to the Adopt A Stream Foundation after the holidays, it will be planted next to a local salmon stream in 2013.

“This is a fun event for the whole family,” foundation director Tom Murdoch said in a prepared statement.

Those trees planted next to salmon streams will hold soil in place and, as they grow, provide shade to help keep the streams cool for salmon, Murdoch said.

For more information and driving directions go to www.streamkeeper.org or call Adopt A Stream Foundation at 425-316-8592.